Joyful Confidence

Open your bibles to Philippians chapter 3. I have titled the message this morning a Joyful Confidence. Pray with me…

I want to say a few things before I get going this is one of my favorite passages in the bible, I love the richness in these 11 verses. I want to say something that I believe everyone Christian should believe, and that is this.. Christians should be the most confident people in the world.

Notice the word should, I know myself at times lack confidence, and I am sure you are the same way. One of the things I love about my wife is her confidence, and when I read the words of Paul I read someone who is confident because his confidence lies in Jesus.

In an ever changing world we can be confident in the one who never changes.

Since we have began this book we have seen the confidence that Paul has in Jesus. In chapter 1 he is confident that the Lord will finish the work that he started in every believer. He is confident that his life and imprisonment was for the advancement of the gospel. He is confident to live is Christ to die is gain. Those are just a few of those things, and today we are in arguably the most important text that Paul has ever written, and you might say why would you say that.

Well I say that because this text really gets to the heart of every single person, and it makes them answer the question who or what does my confidence lie in.

Today what I want you to see as our main idea is this..

Joyful confidence flows from faith in Christ.

Paul here in this text starts by saying

Philippians 3:1 ESV

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

In this text he is transitioning to something he really wants the people of Philippi to know and I believe something he wants us to know, in fact he wants them to focus on the Lord. To rejoice in the Lord, and he wants them to know specifically what it means to know the Lord, and he believes that this knowing of the Lord will in fact protect them. There is no greater safety than that of the Lord.

I want you to see several points today the first is this.

Those who have Joyful confidence do not accept false teachings..

Paul wants to protect these people from the enemy in fact he says..

Philippians 3:2 ESV

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

This is powerful language here. This is not just look out for that random dog wondering your neighborhood. He is saying look out for these false teachers who are coming to destroy the foundations that I laid in front of you. Dogs were not like today who are our pets during this time in this part of the world they were nasty, unclean, they were dangerous, and they liked to get into things they were not suppose to be in. And these men were getting into the church, and spreading a false gospel.

The text alludes that this false gospel is from the Judaizers. Now the judaizers had an appearance of godliness they believed in Jesus Christ , but they wanted desperately to hold on to many of the teachings of Judaism. Specially they wanted to hold on to the practice of circumcision.

They were preaching to the people of Philippi that you had to be circumcised in order to be saved. That you had to add to the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul in his letter to the Galatians speaks strongly about those people who attempted to do this.. when he says in Gal 5:12

Galatians 5:12 ESV

12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

He did not think highly of these people. In fact this false teaching was a growing problem in the church during the early times of the apostles in fact it was so important that in acts chapter 15 they had to meet just to have a firm stance on whether or not this is going to be a requirement, and the verdict of that was no its not a requirement to be saved.

See what these judaizers were doing was actually harming these people more than just the act of circumcision, because they were leading people to think that there standing with God depended on something they did.

Now there are many “Christian denominations, and believers who either intentionally or unintentionally have told others that they have to jump through hoops in order to have a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

Paul wants the people of Philippi and us to know these people who do this are just dirty dogs. They are evil people. he goes on to say in verse 3. That we are the Circumcision.

In fact going back to Galatians Paul says in Gal 6:15

Galatians 6:15 ESV

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Paul wants the people of Philippi to know that followers of Christ are the true circumcision. You dont have to follow the law before you follow Christ. You dont have to check a bunch of boxes before you can follow Christ.

Today we have to watch out for people, churches, and denominations who say its Christ plus something.. that is not how that works it Christ plus nothing, and those who have joyful confidence do not accept a false gospel. And they dont accept a false gospel because of the next point..

Those who have joyful confidence have no confidence in the flesh.

Listen to verse 3.

Philippians 3:3 ESV

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Paul here is saying that those who have the true circumcision by faith worship by the Spirit of God. They have a life that has been transformed by the Spirit to live a life for him, not seeking his approval based on works, but working out their salvation as we have learned by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.

Read something this week saying… The Christian life is a Christ-exalting life.

That is part of our mission here. We want to exalt the savior. In fact in our mission statement it says… Just as a reminder to you that section of our mission document says.. First and foremost our goal at Agape is to Exalt the Savior. To Exalt simply means to hold Jesus in very high regard. At Agape we make much of Jesus every time we meet and in our everyday life. We exalt Christ because of who is and what he has done. Christ is God and is worthy of worship, and he is our savior. He is our savior because he died for our sin on the cross, and rose on the third day proving he has dominion over the power of sin.  We exalt the Lord the with all our heart, soul, and strength. Meaning we worship our savior with all we have. When we worship him we do so from our head to our heart. We exalt him in our deeds and actions. We exalt the Lord in praise, proclamation, and in prayer.

And we exalt him because our confidence is not in the flesh. And because of who he is and what he has done.

Now Paul is about say some powerful things for the sole purpose of defeating the arguments of these dogs these false saying to people of Philippi listen this judaizers may come to you listing all their good works, but I want tell you I have more. In fact anyone who wants to brag about how many accolades they have I have more. He is the goat of works we could say.

Listen to the next few verses.. Phil 3:4-6

Philippians 3:4–6 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

This guy has an impressive Jewish resume. In fact its far better than any of the judaizers had and it does not come close.

Listen carefully to this breakdown. This man was circumcised on the eighth day. Notice how he puts that first. Because that was the main focal point of these judaizers… He did it the right way, when you were suppose to be circumcised not later in life, but on the 8th day that is what the scriptures teach us is the right way.

But Paul wants to get to something deeper and that is no ritual whether biblical or not can save you.

Today we see things like baptism the Lords supper elevated into a place of justification. Meaning you must do those things in order to be saved.

Thats not what the bible teaches, thats not what Paul taught the Philippians so he wants them to know that even things like the sacraments do not have the power to save. Just as a warning to us I see a-lot of professing baptists do this today I see many people say when they were saved and baptized and it seems like they indirectly put that as their salvation, always know that baptism is a form of obedience, not something that saves. ( dont link rituals to your salvation even though they have a proper place. )

Paul mentions that he is also from the people of Isreal. The people of Isreal are God’s chosen people. Set apart for this Holy purposes, and he comes from that line. He was one who came from that famous line of Abraham.

To go further he says he is from the tribe of Benjamin. Now remember there are 12 tribes of Isreal, but Benjamin has a special place in its history. They are one of the faithful tribes. If you know your bible history when the kingdom split Judah and Benjamin remained faithful.

Historically there was this idea if you were an american you were a Christian, that was never fully true even if we as a nation were influenced by Christian believes than in the past, but the reality is no matter where you come from that can be a Christian home or where ever else, you have to have a relationship with Jesus in order to be saved. Period.

Paul mentions also that he is a Hebrew of Hebrews. Despite living in a world that was dominated by the greek language he still never let go of that background he had.

He knew where he belonged and where he came from, not for us today its sometimes more about the denomination more about our place of worship than Jesus. It becomes a source of pride, or a source of hate if you do not belong to a certain domination while there are denominations that twists the scriptures many of them are faithful, but belonging to one does not save you.

Paul says he is also a Pharisee. The word Pharisee comes from the Aramaic word meaning separated ones. The Pharisees had a lifestyle that was different, had one where they added to the word of God these specific rules to live by trying to make themselves into this moralistic super human that exceeded even the standards of the word of God.

That stuff still happens today. For some reason I have met so many people that have said I am saved, because of .... Saved because I was a good person ( whatever that means, who gets to define goodness except for God ) , saved because i was generous , saved because I went to church a few times a year. Saved because I said a prayer one time, saved because an experience I had the list goes on an on.

I read one guy this week who was witnessing to someone on their deathbed who said they were saved because they were in the boy scouts when they were younger. No amount of rule following can save you from the sins you have commited. Salvation does not come from following a bunch a rules, especially ones that you created yourself.

Paul also says as to zeal a persecutor of the church. We are studying Acts of Wednesday nights, and right now we are almost at the conversion of Paul but prior to him being transformed he was literally ravaging the church, he was responsible for Stephens death. the book of Galatians says he was zealous for the traditions of his fathers.

Reading this week I came across something I think we all need to hear, and that is people can be sincere but be sincerely wrong. Paul thought he was doing the right thing going and destroying the church but he was wrong. Man I hear and a meet alot of people who are passionate about something, we see this from many people today, but what they are passionate about does not align with the scriptures. We have many people who are genuine, and they genuinely wrong about things such as marriage, sexuality, truth, and even salvation. And Paul wants to warn us to not let our passions take the place of Jesus Christ.

Finally we see Paul say as to righteousness under the law blameless. Unlike you and I and the people of Philippi, and these dogs of false teaches Paul actually walked the walk. Paul was a self righteous person, and he bought a-lot of stock in himself so much so that he was considered blameless under the law. He was not sinless, but blameless.

Paul had an impressive resume, one that you and I could never have. He had advantages from his birth, and accolades that no-one could touch. Friends you may have been born into the most faithful of families had the greatest of upbringings, recieved all the privileges that come with being at a faithful church, even notched a few religious things on your resume, but if you count those things as something that saved you you have missed Jesus Christ. Only Faith in Jesus can save you. Paul is about to say this…

Listen to verses 7-9

Philippians 3:7–9 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Next thing I want you to take note of this morning is this…

Those who have joyful confidence know faith in Jesus alone is what saves.

There is alot to unpack in these verses. Paul is saying look at what I had, I had it all when it comes to being a good little Jewish man. No body could top me but all that work should have and has now that I am saved become loss. Not that those things were bad but those things were suppose to cause him to see a need for a beautiful savior like Jesus. All those things fail in comparison to Jesus. They don’t equal up to just knowing Jesus.

Think about that Pauls impressive resume cannot even come close to the fact that he Knows Jesus. It would be like me with my three degrees saying you know what this is nothing compares to knowing my wife. Ill trade it all just to know her. Paul did the same for Jesus.

Not only did he do that but he put those things in its proper place compared to Jesus. He in fact calls these things that the judaizers are pushing down the people of Philippi’s throat rubbish, the King James does a better translation here by calling it dung.

One commentator said.. At the risk of sounding crass, he says its all dog crap compared to knowing Christ. The vulgarity of this term is deliberate as Paul wants to strike with us the worthlessness of a life apart from Jesus. He says you can have the bread of life or you can have a pile of dung?

What a comparison right? Jesus or dung? Because the Apostle Paul wants to you know just how much better Jesus is than even the greatest work a man can do.

In fact this same commentator would say You might say he traded in his accomplishments for a list afflictions.

I have read you this before but what Paul went through for the gospel is incredible let me read it to you again.

2 Corinthians 11:22–29 ESV

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

Just to put this in perspective in the context of Philippians one man said… Now that is a list. Understand Paul is not complaining here. Paul was commited to Christ and he viewed everything done in Christ’s name as gain. One side of the passage is filth his former life with all its accomplishments. On the other side of the page is gain where Christ alone stands the gain side of the page is better to Paul even if it means great sacrifice.

Paul says you can have joyful confidence in the faith you have knowing even though there will be sufferings and great loss in this life you can have a faith that saves.

Verse 9 is the icing on the cake. Back in verse 6 Paul says he was blameless but i mentioned he was not without sin. Despite his impressive resume he needed something. I am so glad that God saved Paul I am not just talking about this Paul, because alot of us are like him, self righteous thinking we have it all figured out.

Because when Jesus met Paul, Paul finally came around by the power of God to see that even his own righteousness was not enough. He needed some other righteousness. One that comes directly from God. Through Jesus Christ. This is what we can’t miss believers in Christ get our righteousness from God through Faith in Jesus. In fact we have to have the righteousness of God just to enter into his presence. Only by faith in Christ can you be saved.

In theological terms this known as imputed righteousness. A few verses in the book of Romans explains this well.

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Jesus is the just and the justifier. If you have faith in Jesus you will be saved.

1 more verse you might memorize is

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Something I read this week you may have heard before was some define justification as just as I never sinned, but we should add that is more than this its just as if Ive always obeyed. For we have not gone from just negative to neutral we have gone from negative to positive. We have not just recieved forgiveness we have been given the perfect righteousness of Jesus.

You know how great that statement is we have recieved grace from God as a gift all we have to do is believe. Repent and believe have saving faith. We don’t have to jump through hoops to know Jesus. Knowing him is far greater than any works. Dont get over that. Know it, believe place your faitj in him.

As we know our journey revolves around this faith, but it also grows.

Listen to verse 10.

Philippians 3:10 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

another thing I want you to take note of is this…

Those who have joyful confidence become more like Christ.

I have stressed this point to you many times now that the Christian life is more than just being saved.

Reading this week I got the message from some people that Paul had an attitude that he was never done growing in his faith. He was not a lazy Christian. I read something this week that the great John MacArthur said one of the keys to his ministry was reading his bible 40 hours a week. We probably dont even do that a month, or some of us even a year. Christians should want to grow in their knowledge and likeness of Jesus Christ. It should never stop. David is Psalm 63 gives us a blueprint for seeking God.

Psalm 63 ESV

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

See your life as only being refreshed by the one who is the Living water. friends we have the same power living in us that raised Jesus from dead, and we should want more of it. Let us not be content with just knowing about Jesus, but knowing and living and being transformed by him. Even through the sufferings that i have said many times is a gift and it makes us look more like him. Paul wants it all, and so should we no matter what that looks because in the end believe its so that we can experience the same power of his death and ultimately his resurrection.

Look at the last verse for today verse 11.

Philippians 3:11 ESV

11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

last point today is this…

Those who have joyful confidence look forward to the resurrection.

Paul after laying down these wonderful truths speaks of the wonderful destination. Now notice he says by any means possible he may attain the resurrection from the dead. What does that mean well it means that Paul does not know when this will happen, but he knows that one day it will. next week we will talk a little bit more about what this looks like, and how our citizenship in heaven dictates the way we live, but today I want to ask you are you looking forward to your resurrection. Now spiritually if you are a believer in Christ he has resurrected you from the dead. And that resurrection should want to lead you to grow in your faith.

as we close do you have a joyful confidence? Do you have a joyful confidence? That rests not in your own works or circumstances but in the finished work of Christ. See Christ came to do the work that you and i could not do being born of a virgin, living a sinless life, going to the cross, dying on it, and rising on the third day so that those who believe in him can have the righteousness of God.

Can grow in their faith, and can be confident of their own resurrection, because Jesus has been raised.

Today if you have been creating a checklist of things you think can save you I want you to throw those things at the foot of the cross, knowing that you can never earn your salvation.

call upon the name of the Lord and you can be saved today. There is nothing better than a real relationship with God that depends on nothing you can do, but only what Christ has done.

Let us pray…